CloudsofInk,PoolsofColour:PaintingsbyHouBeirenexploresthesplashedinklandscapepaintingtraditionthroughtheworkofitsforemostcontemporaryexponent.TheCalifornia-basedHouBeirenhasbeenexploringsplashedinktechniquesinhisworkoverthecourseofthepastfourdecades.Inspiredbyhisfriend,thepainterZhangDaqian(1899–1983)whorevivedsplashedinkpaintinginthe1950sand1960s,Houhasdevelopedthispaintingtraditionintoauniquelyfluidandsensuousvisionofhyper-colourfulmonumentalmountainscapes.HouBeirenservedbrieflyintheNationalistgovernmentinChongqingduringthemid-1940s.HelaterabandonedhispoliticalcareertomovetoBeijingwhereheexhibitedandtaughtpainting.FleeingtoHongKongin1949,HoulatersettledinnorthernCaliforniawherehehaspaintedandtaughtsince1956.
《墨雲彩池：侯北人畫展》通過研究當代最重要的潑墨畫倡導者侯北人的作品，探討潑墨山水畫的傳統。侯北人長居加州，在過去的四十年間孜孜不倦地鑽研潑墨技法。他深受友人張大千（1899–1983）的影響──畫家張大千在上世紀五十與六十年代復興潑墨畫，侯北人則加以傳承與拓展，建立出一種艷麗奪目、氣魄宏大的山水風格，筆墨流暢，別樹一幟。上世紀四十年代中期，侯北人曾短暫任職於重慶的國民政府。隨後他放棄了政治事業，遷往北京任教繪畫和舉辦畫展。侯北人於1949年逃難至香港，再於1956年前往北加州定居，自此在當地致力創作與教授繪畫。
